By politics.co.uk staff

Boris Johnson will stand again as mayor of London, ending months of speculation about his future.

London Conservatives’ regional chairman Caroline Roberts said she was “delighted” to have received a letter from Mr Johnson confirming his decision.

The news will be a huge relief to the Tory party leadership, which had feared Mr Johnson’s concerns about the £16 billion Crossrail project threatened by spending cuts could lead to him challenging the coalition government.

The mayor was quick to dismiss the suggestion he could challenge David Cameron for the Conservative party leadership in a bid to become prime minister.

He told BBC London he “had more chance of being decapitated by a frisbee”.

Mr Johnson beat Labour’s Ken Livingstone in a closely-fought election in 2008. His rival has already made clear he wants to stand again but faces a strong challenge from former MP Oona King.